Ethel+Hestland

Ethel Hestland, age 30, died on April 3, 1932, in the Oklahoma City area from a criminal abortion. Her death certificate was signed by Dr. Richard E. Thacker.

  Thacker (pictured) had been implicated for a string of other abortion deaths, including:
 *  Marie Epperson, February, 1929: Thacker suspected
 * Isobel F. Ferguson, April, 1932, Thacker suspected, sued by widower
 * Ruth Hall, April, 1932: Thacker convicted of murder
 * Lennis May Roach, April, 1932: Thacker implicated by multiple witnesses; outcome of case unknown to me
 * Nancy Joe Lee, April, 1932: Thacker implicated by multiple witnesses; outcome of case unknown to me
 * Robbie Lou Thompson, April, 1932: Thacker implicated by multiple witnesses; outcome of case unknown to me

I believe that Thacker was never prosecuted for the other abortion deaths because the successful conviction in the Ruth Hall case took him off the streets.

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